System for selectively and automatically compressing and decompressing data and enabling compressed data to be rendered in a pseudo-native form

Abstract

A system for selectively and automatically compressing and decompressing data in a manner such that the data file can be rendered in a pseudo-native form and such that a rendering application program can be invoked by the system includes a first computer-based device having software thereon for determining whether a data file is one of a native uncompressed form and compressed form upon one of attaching, detaching, receiving, rendering and accessing the data file. Software compresses the native uncompressed form of the data into an attachment, and software for enhancingly renders the attachment to a viewer in a pseudo-native form, wherein the attachment remains compressed and is rendered to appear as being in a native-uncompressed form.

1. A system for selectively and automatically compressing and decompressing data in a manner such that the data file can be rendered in a pseudo-native form and such that a rendering application program can be invoked by the system, which includes:
 a first computer-based device having software thereon with means for determining whether a data file is one of a native uncompressed form and compressed form upon one of attaching, detaching, receiving, rendering and accessing said data file, means for transparently rendering an attachment with a .zip extension to a viewer in a pseudo-native form upon receipt of said attachment by dynamically manipulating said data file using said software to remove said .zip extension such that said first computer-based device can transparently access said data file, wherein said attachment remains compressed and rendered to appear as being in a native-uncompressed form without said .zip extension and without having to invoke a decompression utility. 
 
   
   
     2. The system of  claim 1 , which further includes sender determining means for determining whether to send said data file to a second computer-based device in one of a compressed form and native uncompressed form. 
   
   
     3. The system of  claim 2 , wherein said sender determining means includes software means for automatically determining whether said second computer-based device is equipped with means for decompressing said attachment. 
   
   
     4. The system of  claim 1 , wherein said software is automatically initiated upon composing a data file on said first computer based device. 
   
   
     5. The system of  claim 1 , wherein said software is automatically initiated upon composing an e-mail on said first computer based device. 
   
   
     6. The system of  claim 1 , which includes means for compressing said native uncompressed form of said data file into an attachment. 
   
   
     7. The system of  claim 6 , wherein said compressing means is further characterized to selectively compress said data file upon a compression of said data file resulting in a system savings of a predetermined percentage. 
   
   
     8. The system of  claim 6 , wherein said compression means compresses said data file in a manner to permit opening thereof by an industry standard decompression application program.